Apparatus for shoe manufacture



Dec. 29, 1953 A; E. s'r. GERMAIN 2,663,884 APPARATUS FOR- SHOE MANUFACTURE Filed Jan. 30, 1951 2 Sheets-Shed l flzz'ewar ewr lzzyezze 6d. erm

Dec. 29, 1953 A. E. sT. GERMAIN 2,663,884

APPARATUS FOR SHOE MANUFACTURE Filed Jan. 50, 1951 2 snees $1ie 2 218 It; ,9;v

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Patented Dec. 29, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,663,884 v APPARATUS FOR SHOE MANUFACTURE lilgenor Eugene St. Germain, HaverhilLMass. Application January 30, 1951, Serial No. 208,601

7 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for use in the manufacture of shoes, and more especially to apparatus for finishing shoes of the kind wherein the bottom structure involves the use of a wrapper covering, a platform, and/or a heel wedge. It is to be understood, however, that its use is not limited exclusively to operation on shoe bottom structure, but that it may have application to operations on other parts of shoes.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide a smoothing iron of improved shape for removing wrinkles from the wrappersapplied to the platforms and heel wedges of the California type shoe so as to cause the material to con" form smoothly and snugly to the outline of the parts, particularly at points where there is an abrupt change of curvature, to provide a tool which effects the smoothing action by a combination of heat and pressure, and to provide a tool which for a given range of sizes, will be useful throughout the range without replacement. Other objects are to provide supporting structure which permits rapid change-over from an iron suitable for one range of sizes to an iron suitable for another range without dismantling the operating parts of the apparatus, improved oscil lating mechanism of simple but positive action, and improved means for connecting the heating unit to the source of power. Still further ob-. jects are to provide an apparatus of very compact construction which is durable and portable.

As herein illustrated, the machine has a sup porting pedestal upon which there is mounted a hollow head within which is situated the operating mechanism and which supports on its Out," side an iron. The iron has an arcuate surface arranged convex side down for oscillation about a horizontal axis through the center of curvature of its arcuatesurface. Thearcuate surface.

forms part of a lip integral with the forward end of a. block which was a forward end face rising substantially perpendicularly from the arcuate surface. The arcuate surface is substantially lentic-ular in shape from end to end, preferably extending throughout about a quadrant, and from its forward edge to its rear edge, is slightly concave. The block has a rear end within which is a recess for receiving a heating element. The block is supported at its forward and rearends by one end of a. countershaft extending outwardly from the head and a bearin pivot spacedforwardly of the forward end of the countershaft'the axis of the bearing pivot and countershaft being sea,

stantially in alignment so that the iron maybe oscillatable about the horizontal axis of the withv the lower edge of the front countershaft. An overhanging bracket fast to the face of the housing forms a support for the bearing pivot, which is removably mounted thereon. The countershaft is journaled in the head and is oscillated by a constantly rotating main shaft through an arm fast to the countershaft and a cam on the main shaft arranged to have contact with the arm, and to rock it.

The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Y Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatuswith the lower part of its pedestal omitted;

Fig.2 is a. side elevationof the apparatus to larger scale, partly in section;

Fig. -3 is a transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the iron to larger scale;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the support for the iron to larger scale; I T

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the bracket support for the forward pivot bearing of the iron? Fig. 7 is a plan view showing the details of the connection for the heating element;

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the iron; and

Fig. 9 is a vertical section taken on the line 9'-9 of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus has a pedestal like base 10 from which rises a column 12 to which is fast a substantially rectangular, hollow, head casting M which constitutes a housing for the oscillating mechanism H5 and a support for the ironing tool [8. The of the housing M may be adjusted to suit the particular operator the column I2 in the pedestal. A motor M'is mounted on the top ofv the housing.

The ironing tool I 3 (Figs; 4 and 8) is in the form of a block 2!]- and has at'its forward end a downwardly projecting; quadrant-shaped lip 22;

which has asmooth, arcuate, downwardly facing convex ironing surface 24 and a forward end face 26 ofquadrant' shape, which is substantially angles to thearcuatesurface 2'4. The blockis supported, as will be described here Y fiat'and at right vertical height by vertical adjustment of and tapers toward its opposite extremities, thereby providing an operating surface of uniformly graduated widths for operating upon platforms and/or heels of varying thicknesses. In the preferred form, the arcuate surface 24 is slightly concave from front to rear, that is, widthwise, as illustrated by the enlarged section shown in Fig. 9, to provide for positive contact of the iron with the margins of the work being operated upon, that 'is, around-the-corner portions.

The front vertical surface provides a support or rest against which the'shoe may be held while operating upon the bottom, and insure ironing at the proper angle thereto, that is, in the plane of the edge face. Both the arcuate surface or portion and the end face have smooth, burnished surfaces as slick and free from blemishes as possible. These surfaces may be produced by burnishing the metal, or by plating them with chromium, nickel, and other suitable hard, long-Wearing material.

The block 28 has in it a vertical hole 28 extending from the top downwardly to near the bottom portion thereof, a conical hole 30 in its front face above the vertical portion 25, substan tially at the center of curvature of the arcuate surface 25, and a transversely extending hole 32 at its rear end, near the top.

. The ironing tool, that is the block, is supported at its forward end by a cone bearing 34 having a conical end 35 engaged within the conical opening 30. The cone bearing 34 is threaded into a depending bearing support 38 formed integral with an overhead bracket 46 having spaced, rearwardly extending legs 152 fastened to the wall of the housing I4 by means of bolts 44. The rear end of the iron is pivotally supported on a substantially horizontally disposed pivot pin 45 which extends through the hole 32 and has projecting end portions extending through spaced ears 48 embracing the rear end of the block 28 and formed integral with a coupling 50 which is fast to the forwardly projecting end of a countershaft 52 journaled in the housing [4. The shaft 52 is arranged to oscillate about a horizontal axis, and the axis of the cone bearing 34 is parallel thereto and substantially in alignment therewith, so that oscillation of the shaft 52 will effect oscillation of the iron on the cone bearing. The cone bearing 34 may be backed out of engagement with the conical hole 30 in the front face of the iron, by rotating it in the bearing support 38, thus releasingthe iron so that it may be swung down about the pin 45 and completely released by removal of the pin 46. It is apparent that, if it is necessary to replace the iron with one of different size or shape, the replacement may be readily made without dismantling the operating parts of the machine.

Oscillation of the iron is effected by oscillation of the countershaft 52 as follows. Within the housing l4 thereis a second or main shaft 54 journaled in the walls of; the housing above and parallel to the countershaft 52, a portion of which extends rearwardly through the housing and is fast to a pulley 58. A belt58 entrained about the pulley B and a pulley. 6 3 fast to the shaft of motor M provides for continuous rotation of the main shaft 55. An arm 62 is mounted on the shaft 52 and made fast thereto by a key 64. s The arm 62 extends upwardly close to the shaft 5 and has fastened to it by a belt, a follower '30 having spaced arms 12 which embrace a cam or eccentric 68 made fast to'the shaft 54 by a'key 68, Rotation of the shaft 54 will, therefore. rock 4 the arm 62 and oscillate the shaft 52. An oil felt 16 is placed on the shank of the bolt 14 so as to have contact with the cam 66 to keep it lubricated.

The coupling 50 ha a forwardly extending portion 18 overlying the top of the iron in which there is a vertical opening 89 in registry with the hole 28 in the iron. A heating coil 82 is set into the opening 88 and is supported by the coupling 50 with its lower end projecting into the hole 28 of the iron. A pair of binding posts 84 at the top of the heating coil are connected by leads 86 to vertically arranged, spaced blades 88 fast to the top of the coupling 59. At the rear side of the blades 88 there are brushes 9i! yieldably held in contact with the blades, and supported by a brush holder 92 bolted to the rear end of the bracket 40 with a sheet of insulation therebetween. The blades have fairly broad surfaces with which the brushes contact, thus affording contact and uninterrupted flow of current to the heater, in spite of the oscillation of the iron with reference to the fixed brushes. Suitable conductors 94 supply current to the brushes by way of a thermostat control 95 and switch 98. The thermostat 96 is mounted on top of the bracket 48 and the switch 98 is supported above the bracket by means of a pair of posts Hill.

The bracket 4!), coupling 50, and the upper part of the iron iii are concealed by a cover I02 closed at the top, front and sides but open at the back and bottom. The cover is bolted to the forward end of the bracket fill, has a substantially vertical front wall and an upwardly inclined top in which are openings through which an adjusting stem N34 for the thermostat passes, and in which the switch i situated. A knob its on the end of the rod I84 provides for adjusting the thermostat, and hence the amount of current supplied to the iron. A plate I08 having a hole therein for the switch tumbler is placed over the switch opening and switch therein and screwed to the top of the housing so as to provide a neat appearance. A switch H is mounted on the side of the housing 14 and provides means for supplying current from an outside source to the motor M.

In using the apparatus, the switch 98 is first actuated to supply current to the heating coil and hence to raise the temperature of the iron so that it is at the right temperature for the work being operated upon. The motor M is then started and the operator holds the shoe with the edge of the platform and/or heel wedge on which the wrapper strip is applied, firmly against the iron and by manipulation of the shoe, that is, by relative movement of the shoe, with reference to the iron, smooth the wrapper so as to eliminate any wrinkles. The application of both heat and pressure during the smoothing also affords an appreciable amount'of shrinkage, thus conforming the wrapper to theedge 0f the platform and/or heel and at the same time activating any adhesive that may be placed between the parts, so as to cause the wrapper to adhere firmly to the part to which it is applied. The lenticular shape of the iron makes it possible to operate upon soles of various thickness, for example, the thick edge of the sole of a mans shoe or the thin edge of the sole of a womens shoe throughout the range of sizes, by disposition of the edge with that portion of the ironing surf-ace which corresponds in width therewith. For example, the lowermost portion of the arcuate surface is made wide enough for the thickest sole or heel,

means for supporting whereas the portions on either side thereof have narrowing areas which taper sufliciently to be usearcuate surface from front to back is slightly concave, and thus assures ironing of the edge of the sole at the corners.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for use in shoe manufacture comprising an iron having a smooth, arcuate surface with which the work may be held engaged, the iron for oscillation about a through the center of curvature of the arcuate surface so that any given generatrix of the and being slightly substantially horizontal axis passing comprising an iron having a smooth, arcuate surface with which the work may be held engaged, means for supporting the tool for oscillation about a substantially horizontal axis passing through the center of curvature of the arcuate surface so that any given generatrix of the surface extends forwardly and rearwardly substantially parallel to the axis of oscillation, and means for effecting oscillation of said supporting means, said arcuate surface constituting a quadrant lengthwise, being substantially lenticular in area with its apices at opposite ends of the quadrant and slightly concave widthwise.

3. Apparatus for use in shoe manufacture comprising a quadrant-shaped iron having a smooth, substantially quadrant-shaped, front face from which extends rearwardly, substantially perpendicular thereto, an arcuate peripheral surface, means supporting the iron for oscillation about an axis perpendicular to the front face with the arcuate surface subjacent thereto, and means for effecting oscillation of said supportingmeans, said arcuate surface being substantially lenticular in area, the forward edge of said surface intersecting the lower edge of the front face, and the rear edge of the arcuate surface converging at its end with the lower edge of the front face.

4. Apparatus for use in shoe manufacture comprising an iron having forward and rear ends said forward end being segmental in shape and having a convex surface facing downwardly for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis parallel to and substantially at the center of curvature of said convex surface, a shaft arranged to oscillate about its longitudinal axis, means for effecting oscillation of said shaft, means for supporting and operably connecting the iron and shaft, said means including means pivotally connecting the rear end of the iron to the forward end of the shaft for movement about a substantially horizontal axis perpendicular to the axis of the shaft and at approximately the level of the shaft, and a bearing member spaced forwardly of and opposite the end of the shaft upon which the forward end of the iron is journaled for oscillation about an axis parallel to the axis of the shaft.

5. Apparatus for use in shoe manufacture comprising aniro'n having forward and rear ends, said forward end having at the under side thereof, an arcuate surface arranged convex side down-for oscillation about a substantially horizontal axis parallel to itssurface, a substantially horizontal shaft arranged to oscillate about its longitudinal axis, means for efiecting oscillation of the shaft, and means supporting and operably connecting the iron and shaft, including a pivot means carried by the forward end of the shaft on which the rear end of the iron is pivotally supported for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis substantially at the level of the longitudinal axis of the shaft and perpendicular thereto, and a pivot bearing spaced forwardly of the shaft upon which the forward end of the iron is journaled, said pivot bearing permitting freedom of movement of the iron about an axis substantially coincident with the axis of the shaft.

6. Apparatus for use in shoe manufacture comprising an iron having forward and rear ends, said forward end having at the under side thereof, an arcuate surface arranged convex side down for oscillation about a substantially horizontal axis parallel to its surface, means for effecting oscillation of the shaft, and means sup: porting and operably connecting the iron-and shaft including a coupling associated with the forward end of the shaft, pivot means carried by the coupling upon which the rear end of the iron is supported for movement about a horizontal axis substantially at the level of the axis of the shaft and at right angles thereto, and a bearing spaced forwardly of the shaft for engagement with the forward end of the iron, said bearing permitting oscillation of the iron about an axis coincident with that of the shaft.

7. Apparatus for use in shoe manufacture comprising an iron having forward and rear ends, said forward end having an arcuate surface arranged convex side down for oscillation about a substantially horizontal axis parallel to its surface, means for effecting oscillation of said shaft, and means supporting and operably connecting the iron and shaft including a coupling fast to the forward end of the shaft, said coupling having an embrasure within which is recessed the rear end of the iron, a pivot pin extending through the walls of the embrasureand the rear end of the iron, pivotally supporting the latter for movement about a horizontal axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the shaft, and a cone bearing arranged forwardly of the yoke for engagement with the forward end of the iron, the axis of said cone bearing being in line with and substantially parallel to the axis of the shaft.

AGEN OR EUGENE ST. GERMAIN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Chandler May 8, 1917 

